Cross-Strait Relations and U.S. Roles in the Taiwan Strait Crisis

Abstract

The recent crisis in the Taiwan Strait has not only brought cross-Strait relations to their lowest point since the 1958 Kinmen (Quemoy) crisis, but also threatened to involve the United States in military confrontation with the People’s Republic of China. The root cause of the crisis was Beijing’s attempt to “punish” Taipei for its “pragmatic diplomacy,” which has threatened to undermine Beijing’s effort to internationally isolate and delegitimize the Republic of China. U.S. intervention has defused the crisis; however, it is unlikely that Washington would send combat troops to defend Taiwan.